Paddle drive for boats



Feb. 23, 1965 o. L. KILMER 3,179,437

PADDLE DRIVE FOR BOATS Filed Aug. 30, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR 80 OiVAL Z. MIME? Y QLgW Y ATTOF/VEKS Feb. 23, 1965 Filed Aug. 30, 1962 0. L. KILMER PADDLE DRIVE FOR BOATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. oil/41 L. M11 45? BYQaV Z 4/ United States 3,170,437 PADDLE DRIVE FOR BOATS Orval L. Kilmer, 5870 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids, Mich. FiledAug. 3t), 1962, Ser. No. 226.),4'75 2 Claims. (Cl. 115-49) This invention relates to paddle wheel boats, and more particularly to a highly maneuverable paddle wheel boat capable of navigating small rivers and streams which may have shallow areas, weedy areas, muddy areas, or sharp narrow bends.

Of the variety of water craft available today, including motor boats, prop-driven rafts, sailboats andjet-driven boats, there is no reasonably priced craft available to the public and capable of providing leisurely navigation by a groupof people of narrow, winding, partially shallow, and perhaps muddy, weedy streams and small rivers.

Conventional paddle wheel boats cannot pass shallow areas without damage to the paddles, nor are they highly maneuverable to navigate narrow sharp bends. Further, the paddles readily become entangled in Weeds.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a water craft capable of navigating, in a leisurely fashion, winding streams or rivers which may have shallow areas, weedy areas, muddy spots, and narrow, sharp bends. Moreover, the boat is capable of traversing such conditions without difliculty or paddle damage. It can carry a large number of persons.

It is another object of this invention to provide a paddle wheel boat having paddles capable of operation at variable, accurately-controlled depths.

It is another object of this invention to provide a paddle wheel boat with self-cleaningpaddles, either of mud or weeds. The paddles also provide directional stability. The paddles further do not lift and throw water during operation. 7

It is another object of this invention to provide a highly maneuverable paddle wheel boat.

These and other objects of this invention will be apparent upon studying the following specification in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the inventive boat;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, rear perspective view of the paddle wheels of the boat; 1

FIG. 3 is a side, perspective view of the mounted paddle wheels;

FIG. 4 is a plan, partially schematic view of one form of mechanical drive mechanism of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a plan schematic view of a second form of.

hydraulic drive mechanism.

Basically, the inventive paddle whee-l boat comprises a hull having paddle wheel means vertically movable with respect to the hull, and having a power motor means such as a fluid cylinder secured between the boat and paddle wheel meansto vary the depth thereof. The paddle wheel means is composed of two adjacent paddle wheels'having independent drive control means allowing independent forward, stop and reverse action for sharp maneuvering. These are driven by a single common engine. rear of the boat are each slanted to be slightly askew with respect to the paddle wheel axle, i.e., each extends over a short arcuate peripheral portion of the wheel so that the outer ends of both paddles contact and leave the water first. Water thereby flows across the paddles toward the center of the boat in a self-cleaning action, and then flows to the rear between the paddles for directional stability. Preferably, the independently controllable paddle wheels are both mounted on a common bracket frame pivotally mounted to the boat and operated The paddles on the two adjacent wheels at the.

diiidfld Patented Feb. 23, 1%65 &6

by the fluid cylinder to allow simultaneous depth adjustment of both wheels.

Referring now to the drawings, the inventive paddle wheel boat 10 is basically composed of a buoyant body or hull 12, and a paddle wheel drive means 14 mounted thereto at the rear. The hull, 12 may assume several different for-ms and is here shown to include a pair of elongated pontoons or float tanks 16 upon which platform 18 is mounted. Guard rails 20 and a canopy 22 can be supported on the platform. Control of the drive mechanism may be had using a plurality of control levers 24 adjacent drivers seat 26.

Each of the paddle wheels 40 and 42 is composed of a plurality ofcircumferentially positioned, generally rectangular blades or paddles. Their opposite ends are mounted upon a pair of spokes 46and 48. The inner ends of the radial spokes are secured to a pair of spaced hubs 50 on each wheel. The hubs 5d are mounted on central shafts or axles 52 and 54. These axles are mountedto operate independently of each other. Each of the axles, for example axle 52, is journaled at the opposite ends within a pair of bearings 58 and 60. In FIG. 2, part of wheel 42 is broken away, along with its sprocket and chain drive, and the inner end of its axle 54, to show the sprocket 126 and chain 124 on shaft 52 of Wheel 49. It will be understood that the inner end of shaft 54 is likewise mounted in a bearing on leg and has a sprocket and chain drive as shown in FIG. 4. The four bear.- ings mounting the axles are attached to a special bracket frame 62 which includes a pair of parallel outer. legs 64 and 66, a cross member 68 extending therebetween and located between the paddle wheels and the boat, and acentral leg 70 parallel to the other legs and spaced therebetween. Thus, the outer bearings are mounted to the outer two legs 64 and 66., and the two inner bearings are independently mounted to the center leg 70. The forward ends of thelegs are pivotally mounted as at 74 to platform 18. t

Each paddle of the two paddle wheels is slightly askew or slanted with respect to the axle of its respective paddle wheel. It thus extends over an arcuate portion of the wheel periphery and has a dimension in the circumferential. The outer edge of each paddle on each wheel intersects and leaves the water before the inner edge thereof. Thereby water flows laterally across the paddles towards the center of the boat, where it merges from the respective paddle wheels and flows to the rear as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 2. i

The pivotally mounted frame 62 and its paddle wheels may be lifted or lowered with respect to the boat by a fluid cylinder 89. The cylinder has one end mounted to the boat hull at 84. Thepiston rod 86 of the cylinder is attached to the cross member 68 of the frame. By supplying fluid pressure to the cylinde r,r;od 86 may be extended to raise the paddle wheels with respect to the boat and the. water. This may be controlled bya suitable conventional control valve (not shown), actuated by one of the control levers or handles 24. Exhausting the pressurized fluid allows the paddle wheels and frame to be lowered by gravity.

One form of the drive sequence for the. respective paddle wheels is illustrated in FIG. 4. It will be readily understood after studying this description, that this sequence may be modifiedin a variety of ways Without departing from the principles taught. Beneath platform 18 and between the pontoon float elements 16; is a power plant 30 (FIG. 4.) which may be an internal combustion engine. Drive connection from engine 30 to drive shaft 32 is through a conventional clutch 34 controlled by a cable attached to manual lever 24. This clutch may assume any of a variety of conventional forms, and thus is not shown in structural detail. Drive shaft 32 from the common, centrally positioned engine 30 operates two independent drive sequences to independently operate the two paddle wheels 40 and 42 adjacent-each other at the rear of the boat. Power from engine 30, through clutch 34. and drive shaft 32, is imparted to a suitable gear 90.

Gear 90 drives laterally positioned gears 92 and 94.

These latter gears rotate secondary shafts 96 and 98, respectively, to thereby drive bevel gears 100 and 102 in gear boxes 104 and 106. These gear boxes may be of any conventional type allowing reverse, idle, and forward motion simply by meshing of different gears to rotate the gear box shafts 108 and 110 in opposite directions. In the illustrated form shown in FIG. 4, bevel gear 100 meshes with bevel gear 112 to rotate shaft 108, sprocket 1-14, chain 116, sprocket 118, shaft 120, sprocket 122, chain 124, and sprocket 126 to axle 52. Chain 124 extends between sprocket 122 on the boat and sprocket 126 mounted to shaft 52 of paddle wheel 40. This causes forward drive of the paddle wheel. A similar arrangement occurs from bevel gear 102 to shaft 54 of paddle wheel 42. A second gear. 132 is also mounted on shaft 198.

Both gears 112 and 132 are secured to a sleeve 131 which is keyed to shaft 108. Sleeve 131 and gears 112 and 132 are axially slidable on shaft 108 to enable shifting by lever 130. Reverse movement of the right hand paddle wheel 4% may be had merely be shifting lever 139 to slide bevel gear 132 into meshing relationship with drive bevel gear 100, and simultaneously disengaging gear 112 from its meshing relationship therewith. The second gear box 106 has the same drive relationship. Therefore, controllever 140 may be shifted to cause forward or reverse motion of the second paddle wheel independently of the first paddle wheel. Alternatively, both or either paddle wheel may be removed from a driving connectionby pushing the control lever to a middle neutral positon where neither gear 112 nor 132 meshes with drive gear 100. This shifting can be controlled by cables 150 connected to lever 24" for gear box 104, and lever 24" for gear box 106. The chain 124 extending between sprocket 122 and 126 enables the frame 62 mounting the paddle wheels to be pivotally raised and lowered Without interfering with the drive arrangements.

Operation The device may be used to navigate various types of bodies of water, even narrow, winding, weedy, muddy, shallow streams. In operation, engine 30 supplies power to clutch'3-4 to drive shaft 32. Power is thereby transmitted through the independent drive sequences to the collect.

If a shallow area is encountered, one of the control levers 24 is shifted to actuate a conventional valve mechanism (not shown) to extend fluidv cylinder 8th This pivots frame 62 upwardly to raise the paddle wheels up a desired amount and allow continued progress through the shallow area without damage to the paddles. Upon entering deeper areas, the wheels can gain be lowered for more propelling power.

If a sharp bend is encountered in the stream so that the boat must be quickly maneuvered, either of the levers 24 or24 may be shifted to throw one of the paddle wheels into reverse action and leave one in forward motion. This causes a sharp turn. Alternately, it may merely be necessary to throw one of the paddle wheels into neutral position. After using thev boat, if it is not to be used for a period of time, fluid cylinder 80 can be actuated .to raise the paddle wheel completely out of the water. This prevents growth of plant life on the paddle wheels, and prevents water damage thereto.

Thus, the structure is capable of carrying a large group of people leisurely through normally impassable places, and yet it is simple to operate, readily maneuverable, and capable of navigation of usually impassable-areas.

Instead of the mechanical drive mechanism, a suitable pair of independent hydraulic drive sequences may be incorporated to independently drive the two paddle wheels. In FIG. 5, a schematic representation of hydraulic drive is shown to include a pump 2% driven by engine 30. A pair of hydraulic pressure lines 204 and 206 pass from the pump, through a control valve 203 operated by control lever 24a and to opposite side of one hydraulic motor 210 operably connected to axle 52 of paddle wheel Shifting of lever 24a and valve 208 reversed fluid flow in lines 204 and 206 to provide forward and reverse action for Wheel 40.

Likewise, a second :pair of fluid lines 214 and 216 from pump 200, through control valve 218 operated by lever 24b, to opposite sides of the second hydraulic motor 220, provides forward and reverse action for the second paddle wheel 42. It should be realized that this schematic view shows merely the basic outline of the hydraulic circuits since suitable reservoir means, etc. are included in actual production. This is sufiicient to enable those in the art to understand its operation.

The fluid cylinder 80 for raising and lowering the paddle wheel frame will also receive pressurized fluid from pump 200.

Various advantages in addition to those already pointed out, and certain obvious modifications to suit a particular purpose may readily appear to those in the art upon studying the foregoing form 'of the invention and the principles involved. Such obvious modifications are deemed to be part of this invention, whichis to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, and the reasonably equivalent structures to those defined therein.

I claim:

1. A paddle wheel boat comprising: a hull; a pair of adjacent paddle wheels at the rear of said boat and mounted on a common frame; an engine forming a power plant means in said boat; separate drive means from said power plant means to each of said paddle wheels; control means for each drive means to enable independent wheel operation for maximum maneuverability; both of said wheels being mounted to a common bracket; said bracket being pivotally mounted to and extending from the rear of said boat; and extensible-contractable power motor means between a portion of said bracket rearwardly of its pivotal mount and said boat, to raise and lower said bracket and both wheels simultaneously with respect to said boat while allowing simultaneous driving of selected ones'of said paddles.

2. A paddle wheel boat, comprising: a buoyant body; an engine mounted to said body; a fluid pump operably connected to said engine to be driven thereby; separate support bracket means extending rearwardly from the rear of said boat and pivotally mounted thereto; a pair of independently rotatable paddle wheels arranged side by side on said bracket means; a pair of rotational fluid motors operably connected to said paddle wheels for driving thereof; extensible-contractable fluid cylinder means (References on folfowing page) el t -1 Referezxces Ciied in the file of this patent 1,721,239 Ward July 16, 1929 T 1,820,866 Bruguiere Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,008,249 Grenir July 16, 1935 147,140 Klrby 3, 1874 2,486,049 Miller Oct. 25, 1949 169,287 Patterson Oct. 26, 1875 431,009 Reynolds June 24, 1890 FOREIGN PATENTS 675,201 Douglas May 28, 1901 904 2 5 Thompson 17 190 138,178 Swltzerland y 1930 

1. A PADDLE WHEEL BOAT COMPRISING: A HULL; A PAIR OF ADJACENT PADDLE WHEELS AT THE REAR OF SAID BOAT AND MOUNTED ON A COMMON FRAME; AN ENGINE FORMING A POWER PLANT MEANS IN SAID BOAT; SEPARATE DRIVE MEANS FROM SAID POWER PLANT MEANS TO EACH OF SAID PLATE PADDLE WHEELS; CONTROL MEANS FOR EACH DRIVE MEANS TO ENABLE INDEPENDENT WHEEL OPERATION FOR MAXIMUM MANEUVERABILITY; BOTH OF SAID WHEELS BEING MOUNTED TO A COMMON BRACKET; SAID BRACKET BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO AND EXTENDING FROM THE REAR OF SAID BOAT; AND EXTENSIBLE-CONTRACTABLE POWER MOTOR MEANS BETWEEN A PORTION OF SAID BRACKET REARWARDLY OF ITS PIVOTAL MOUNT AND SAID BOAT, TO RAISE AND LOWER SAID BRACKET AND BOTH WHEELS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID BOAT WHILE ALLOWING SIMULTANEOUS DRIVING OF SELECTED ONES OF SAID PADDLES. 